The Jillaroos are Rugby League World Cup champions after First Nations stars combined for five of their side's six tries to claim a fourth-straight title and lift the trophy over Aotearoa / New Zealand 34-10 in Magandjin / Brisbane.
A fast start sealed the result for the Australian team; Kamilaroi winger Jaime Chapman continuing her scoring spree at the tournament with a first half hattrick.
Indigenous All Stars Shaylee Bent and Tamika Upton also got on the score board, the former going back-to-back after playing part in the Jillaroos' 2022 World Cup win in the UK, and the latter finally adding the triumph to her Dally M Medals, NRLW premierships and State of Origin shields on her CV.
Upton was ruled out of the last world cup with injury.
In hot conditions, forcing drinks breaks, tired bodies and execution errors offered a slower second half after the Jillaroos headed into the sheds leading 34-6 at the break.
Getting started early on a player of the match-winning effort, Chapman added first points in the second minute with strength and speed beating three defenders to crash over in the left corner after a Kiwi Ferns error deep in their own half.
Bent made it 12-nill with the Jillaroos' next trek up the ground, finding the gap from 10 metres out to take full control of the contest early on, before New Zealand were able to work themselves back into the wrestle controlling field position.
The Jillaroos looked dangerous with every trip up the ground.
Chapman had her second putting the finish on a slightly-messy bit of play, grounding the ball mid-dive before her best effort for her third of the half, and 13th of the tournament.
From inside Australia's half, she swerved through the defensive line and brushed past fullback Apii Nicholls to run across for Australia's fifth.
On receiving the player of the match medal, Chapman said he has the "easy job" just finishing off the work in the middle from teammates.
Upton made it six, finishing off another quick bit of ball movement, this time on the right side, after creating the overlap on the edge of half time.
The fullback said it was "surreal" to tick off a world cup win from her list.
"Pretty high, up the top (the win ranks amongst what she's gotten from the game), I'm very excited to celebrate with the girls".
Former Jillaroo Shannon Mato got the Kiwi Ferns on the board in the 23rd minute.
Chapman had six tackle breaks and a game-high 128 running metres by the break.
Bent and Olivia Kernick had team-highs of 29 and 27 tackles each in the middle, while Keilee Joseph produced with 71 running metres from 28 minutes of play.
JAIME CHAPMAN IS SPECIAL 👏 #RLWC26 https://t.co/82CPSXPtet
— Rugby League World Cup 2026 (@rugbyleaguewcup) November 15, 2026
The match shifted back into level pegging after half time.
As the conditions appeared to take their toll, and heavy legs set it, things just didn't quite come together for either side like they had earlier on in the contest.
New Zealand's afternoon was further soured when Nicholls looked to suffer a hamstring injury in the final minutes.
Nicholls had produced an inspiring effort for the silver medallists.
Just as desperate was Isabelle Kelly's tackle in the corner to deny New Zealand a second try shortly afterward, though Mackenzie Wiki was able to mop up a loose ball centremetres out to dive over for the only points of the second half.
Barkindji and Māori coach Jess Skinner is now a world cup champion.
Skinner came into the tournament as its only female head coach after taking over the side in February 2025.
"Our preparation was really methodical, so we wanted to focus on our game...and I felt like the first half was a true reflection of that for us," Skinner told 7's coverage post-match.
Australia and New Zealand meet again the in the men's final on Sunday night at Suncorp.
Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga go head-to-head in the number no.1 jumpers, while a stomach bug has reportedly ruled Latrell Mitchell out after being named on the bench this week.
The Kangaroos just pipped the Kiwis in an electric start to the world cup four weeks ago.
